Xeriscape Landscape Plants For The Arizona Desert Environment
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Succulents

American Agave, Agave americana Mediopicta Alba

American Agave, Agave americana Mediopicta Alba Phoenix Desert Nursery, March 3, 2008.

American Agave Agave americana Mediopicta Alba	American Agave Agave americana Mediopicta Alba

American Agave Agave americana Mediopicta Alba, Agave Family ( Agaveae or Agavaceae ), American Agave. Also called: Agave, American Aloe, Century Plant, Maguey. This agave is a succulent recognizable by its thick, graceful, dark gray-green curving leaves with projecting spines and its massive stature, reaching 5 - 6 feet tall up to 10 - 12 feet wide. When the plant matures and blooms a tall candelabra inflorescence rises to over 20 feet bearing yellow flowers that attract many birds and bees. It produces many suckers which can lead to a large colony if the suckers are not removed. It takes full sun and is drought tolerant. The exact origins of this variety are unknown. It has a massive stature, urceolate form and shiny green leaves with short acuminate leaf tips. The arching leaves are characteristically variegated and have a broad creamy white band down the center of each leaf, with grey-blue sharp-spined edges. Blooms only when the plant is 15 years old or more. The flower stalk is huge (15 to 40 feet), starting like an asparagus, but its flowers are inconspicuous. The plant then dies leaving suckers that grow into replacement plants. This massive and beautiful agave is from the Mexican states of Guanajuato, Oaxaca, and Puebla that forms a dense and very neat rosette of wide, dark green to gray green leaves. In Mexico, it is the premier source for the production of pulque (fermented juice of agave or maguey plants). Height: 5 to 6 feet tall. It spreads to about 10 - 12 feet. Flowers: A large stalk emerges from the center of the plant, it becomes 15 to 40 feet tall. Then green to yellow flowers emerge from the terminal end on a horizontal branching structure growing up to 6 feet in diameter. The flowers are green to pale yellow, up to 3 5/8 inches long, with perianth segments erect, up to 1 1/4 inch long, the ovary is shorter than the perianth. Blooming Time: Phoenix Arizona, Mid March - April. It dies after blooming. Leaves: The leaves symmetrical, a basal rosette, up to 6 feet long, nearly 12 inches wide, shiny green leaves with short acuminate leaf tips, curved or reflexed at the tip, variegated with a broad creamy white band down the center of each leaf, margin toothed. Found: Native Central Mexico, Usually in cultivation for pulque. Elevation: 0 - 5,800 Feet. In Mexico. Can take temperatures down to 18 degrees F. Habitat: It grows well in sand, sandy loam, clay and other heavy soils. It needs good drainage and aeration. It is remarkably tolerant of alkali. Miscellaneous: Maintenance: Low. Good xeriscape plant. Photos Taken; Phoenix Desert Nursery, March 3, 2008.